Understanding Vital Signs & Body Temperature
Vital signs are critical measurements that reveal your body's basic functioning. The five main vital signs include temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and pain level.
Your body temperature reflects the balance between heat produced and heat lost. It can be measured in several ways: through your mouth (oral), rectum (rectal), armpit (axillary), ear (aural), or the temporal artery in your forehead. Normal temperature ranges from 97°F to 100°F, though many facilities now use Celsius measurements.
Temperature naturally varies throughout the day—it's typically lower in the morning and higher in the evening. Other factors affecting your temperature include food intake, physical activity, and individual differences. Increased temperature can result from illness, infection, exercise, or environmental heat, while decreased temperature may occur during sleep, fasting, or exposure to cold.
Health Alert: Extreme temperature changes can be dangerous! Hypothermia (below 95°F) can be fatal if it drops to 93°F, while hyperthermia (above 104°F) requires immediate action to prevent convulsions, brain damage, or death.
